Biotechnology

Successful use of biological insecticides depends on their "active substance" quality, which ensures the biological
efficacy and performance of bioproducts in field conditions:  the active substance have to be virulent and to have
ecological competences (epizootiological qualities, multiplication capacity, spreading and persistence in habitats
and target pests populations). These parameters are objective criteria for selection of microorganisms that can be
successfully included in biological control programs of pests. In this paper are presented results of some laboratory
tests aimed to estimate biological parameters specific for entomopathogenic fungi, including the spores germination
and spores production on culture media and insects.
The biological material used in this study consisted in five Beauveria bassiana entomopathogenic biotypes, isolated
from insects belonging to the ord. Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera in natural epizootic outbreaks, during the
years 2008-2010. 
The results led to the following conclusions: (i) B. bassiana strains having different origins in terms of habitat and
host insect exhibit different biological qualities, (ii) the evaluation of test insects mortality induced by B. bassiana
doesn’t provides a complete pathological characterization of fungal isolates; to assess the biological control
potential of B. bassiana isolates, the virulence have to be correlated with the biological cycle of the fungus and the
spores production on the insect cuticle; (iii) the quantification of spore production on insect is also necessary to
further evaluate the fungal strains potential to naturally increase of virulence.

Biological pest control with mass-produced arthropod natural enemies is well developed in greenhouse crops and has often resulted in the evolution of complex ecosystems with persistent populations of multiple arthro-pod natural enemy species. However, there are cases where arthropod natural enemies are either not effective enough, not available, or their use is rather costly. For these reasons , biological control based on microorganisms, also referred to as 'microbials', represents a complementary strategy for further development. Although commercially available microbials have been around for quite some time, research on and the applied use of combinations of arthropod natural enemies and microbials have remained relatively under explored. Here, we review current uses of ento-mopathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses, and their possible direct and indirect effects on arthropod natural enemies in European greenhouses. We discuss how microbials might be combined with arthropod natural enemies in the light of new methodologies and technologies such as conservation biological control, greenhouse climate management, and formulation and delivery. Furthermore, we explore the possibilities of using other microorganisms for biological control, such as endophytes, and the need to understand the effect of insect-associated microorganisms, or symbionts, on the success of biological control. Finally, we suggest future research directions to optimize the combined use of micro-bials and arthropod natural enemies in greenhouse production. • The application of microbials for pest control in greenhouse crops should be integrated with the use of arthropod natural enemies. Here we review the current uses of entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses, and their possible direct and indirect effects on arthropod natural enemies. • New approaches in the use of conservation biological control, greenhouse climate management, formulation, delivery and endophytic microorganisms could increase the various ways in which microbials can interact with arthropod natural enemies, and these interactions can be both positive and negative for pest control.